Excitement Builds for the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest

GM Hikaru Nakamura Skips 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest

GM Hikaru Nakamura has decided to skip the upcoming 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad that will take place in Budapest, Hungary from September 11-22. Despite his absence, the U.S. team, consisting of GMs Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Leinier Dominguez, Levon Aronian, and Ray Robson, remains the top seed for the event. The team is just ahead of India in average rating, with China, led by World Champion Ding Liren, coming in third.

The Chess Olympiad, held once every two years, is a highly anticipated event in the world of chess, with over 1800 players and 193 national teams registered in the Open section and 181 Women’s teams participating this year in Budapest.

The provisional team line-ups have been published, generating excitement among chess enthusiasts. Some of the key talking points include:

• U.S. Top Seeds Despite Missing Nakamura: Despite Nakamura’s absence, the U.S. team remains the favorite with a 2758 average rating for their top four players. The team includes experienced players who have previously achieved success in the Olympiad.
• Indian Youth Has Arrived: The Indian team, featuring young talents like Arjun Erigaisi, Gukesh Dommaraju, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, is just three ratings points behind the U.S. team. The team’s mix of youth and experience makes them strong contenders for the title.
• Ding vs. Gukesh Could Happen: There is a possibility of a World Championship preview between Ding Liren and Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju. China, returning after sitting out the 2022 Olympiad, has a full-strength team led by Ding and Wei Yi.
• Defending Champion Brings in Surprise Reinforcements: Fourth-seed Uzbekistan, the defending champion, has included surprise reinforcements in their team, with former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik listed as their captain.
• Carlsen In Hunt For Olympiad Gold: Magnus Carlsen, playing for Norway, is unlikely to win the Olympiad with his team, but he aims to repeat his individual gold-winning performance from last year’s European Team Championship.

The article also highlights other teams and players to watch out for in the upcoming Olympiad, including the strong Georgian and Indian women’s teams, the absence of top Chinese players, and the potential for exciting matchups between players from different countries.

The FIDE Chess Olympiad promises to be a thrilling event for chess fans, with top players from around the world competing for glory in Budapest.